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Wanting to buy a nice edition of the books to read and keep for a long time

I'm looking to purchase the Lord of the Rings books, and maybe even the History of Middle Earth books along with any others some of you may recommend. I'm thinking about spending a little bit of extra money to purchase some special editions of these books so I can cherish and enjoy them for years to come, also to keep as a bright spot of my small but growing book collection.

If anyone has some recommendations, I'd be really excited to hear about them. I had purchased a hardcover of the Lord of the Rings (the whole story in one big hardcover) but gave it to a friend for a christmas gift one year. Not sure if those big editions are what I'm looking for though, I'd actually like to open and read them every now and then, not just have them for show.

Folio society can often show a very nice edition of many old classics, possibly LOTR too? They're very well made and lasts years and years. For the Tolkien books I have one old early edition (to keep and...fondle carefully) and one paperback edition I can have around to read. Occasionally someone will borrow the paperbacks and...sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't - and when it disappears, I can easily get a new. No loss.

Paradise Lost I have in one edition from 1796 (Cooke's, cheap but very nice and portable and therefore to me also collectible) and always one or two I got cleaply and can throw about without too much worry. Same for Lyrical Ballads etc., Lewis Carroll - but also fairly recent novels like anything Iain Banks, all of Gaiman, Jeff Noon, Paul Auster, Don DeLillo.

Books can have utility or they can be collectable but they can't really be both unless you're extremely careful with them as physical objects.

...which is why I suggest getting one set of very nice LOTR and one for reading =)

Folio society can often show a very nice edition of many old classics, possibly LOTR too? They're very well made and lasts years and years. For the Tolkien books I have one old early edition (to keep and...fondle carefully) and one paperback edition I can have around to read. Occasionally someone will borrow the paperbacks and...sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't - and when it disappears, I can easily get a new. No loss.

Paradise Lost I have in one edition from 1796 (Cooke's, cheap but very nice and portable and therefore to me also collectible) and always one or two I got cleaply and can throw about without too much worry. Same for Lyrical Ballads etc., Lewis Carroll - but also fairly recent novels like anything Iain Banks, all of Gaiman, Jeff Noon, Paul Auster, Don DeLillo.

Books can have utility or they can be collectable but they can't really be both unless you're extremely careful with them as physical objects.

...which is why I suggest getting one set of very nice LOTR and one for reading =)

Makes a lot of sense, I think I will do just that. I see a lot of cheap copies locally here, will pick one up. I hope to find that perfect set for me to keep though, so many to choose from.

I was given the Folio Society editions of LOTR, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion for Christmas this year. They are very nice editions, very well bound and protected by a proper sleeve; I think they will last a good while!

I was given the Folio Society editions of LOTR, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion for Christmas this year. They are very nice editions, very well bound and protected by a proper sleeve; I think they will last a good while!

I've got the Red Book LOTR -it is a 1 book edition of all three books w/the fold out map - I got that as a gift back in the 70's (this one- http://www.bookperdiem.com/2012/06/lord-of-rings.html)
and I've got the Green Book Hobbit also in slip case cover like the Red Book.
and the one book that greatly helped me understand middle earth was my hard earned copy of the atlas of middle earth ( http://www.amazon.com/The-Atlas-Midd.../dp/0618126996 ) this book greatly helped me to visualize Middle Earth and all the journeys made.
For my at least once a year readings of all the books- I still have my original paper back sets from 1972 or so that may be missing a cover here or there- are still holding up.

however- enough about my books- here to help you (hopefully) is a site that might help guide you into that perfect version that you are looking for-

Wow, thank you everyone for a links and suggestions! There's so many more beautiful editions out there than I first thought. Seen quite a few that has caught my interest but have not found that truly special one for myself, but will keep on looking.